Pivoted pocketed game board



Feb. 22, 1966 R c. BROWN PIVOTED POCKETED GAME HOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May S, 1963 IV\'\"E.\'TOR. ROBERT C. BROWN WMSW Feb. 22, 1966 c. BRQWN 3,236,522

PIVOI'ED POCKETED GAME BOARD Filed May 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 i i i 1 I I 56 a 65 50 7 F g a INVENTOR. ROBERT C. BRowN Home 8 United States Patent 3,236,522 PIVOTED POCKETED GAME BOARD Robert C. Brown, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Frederick W. Darby, Indianapolis, Ind. Filed May 8, 1963, Ser. No. 278,838 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-110) The present invention relates to a game and more particularly to the structure or device for playing a game.

The wellknown game of tic-tac-toe is a particularly interesting diversion for children as well as adults. Another type of game which provides a particularly engrossing indoor sport for both children and adults is the Well known pinball game. Such pinball games usually include traps or obstacles which block the passage of the ball to the desired location, the object of the game being to maneuver the ball around the traps and obstacles. One object of the present invention is to provide a novel game structure permitting the playing of a game embodying the advantages and sport of both the pin-ball game and tic-tac-toe game.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved game structure which is relatively inexpensive, yet which makes possible the playing of an extremely interesting and thrilling game.

Related objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

One embodiment of the invention might include a circular member having a flat upper surface with a plurality of holes therein.

There is also provided means for supporting the member generally at its axis in such a manner that the member can be tilted in various directions to cause marbles to move across the face of the member and to enter and avoid said holes.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a game structure embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of a further alternative embodiment of the invention.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be mad to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will 'be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a game structure including a flat circular board having an annular recess 11 in its upper surface 12, said recess 11 extending completely around the board 10 adjacent its outer periphery 15. Inwardly of the recess 11 are formed a plurality of holes or recesses 16 which are spaced radially of the board 10 relative to a further group of holes or recesses 17. Inscribed upon the surface 12 of the board 10 are the standard double crossed lines of a tic-tac-toe game, the recesses 17 being located at the various points where the X or the circle would normally be placed when playing tic-tac-toe. The recesses 17 are all located in a group which is centered at the axis of the board 10.

Marbles are used in the playing of the present game and are maneuvered across the surface 12 of the board 10 by tilting of the board. Secured to the underneath surface 21 of the board is a pair of finger grips 22, said finger grips being positioned at 180 relative to one another with respect to the board 10. A generally conical support 25 is glued or otherwise fixed within a recess 26 in the lower surface 21 of the board. The user of the board 10 tilts the board by holding either finger grip 22 and rocking the board upon the rounded apex 27 of the conical shape 25. The shape 25 might be formed of, for example, relatively hard plastic or the like.

In using the present game board, a marble might be started within the annular recess 11. It would then be up to the user to tilt the board in such a way that the marble moved across the surface 12 inside of the recess 11. The user must then maneuver the marble so that it does not become trapped within one of the recesses 16. A further obstacle to the player in moving the marbles into the recesses 17 are upstanding pins 30 which are fixed to the game board and extend above the surface 12. After the player has either placed his marble within one of the recesses 17 or has caused his marble to be trapped within one of the recesses 16 or has allowed the marble to move away from the surface 12 of the board, it is the next players turn. Of course, the usual rules of tic-tac-toe might apply as to who is the winner or alternatively, the players can vary the rules of the game to suit themselves.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the game might include the flat circular board having a thinner flat circular board 51 with apertures 52 therethrough in engagement with the board 50. The apertures 52 form with the board 50 recesses which correspond to the recesses 16 and 17 and are identically located. The embodiment of FIG. 3 also includes pins 55 identically located to the pins 30.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that it incorporates a cylindrical radially extending member 56 which holds the two flat members 50 and 51 in position. The member 56 also includes an upwardly extending portion 57 which acts as a guide or retaining means for a marble traveling across the surface 60 of the board 51. The game structure of FIG. 3 is used in substantially the same way as the game structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the exception that there is somewhat less possibility of the marbles becoming separated from the surface 60.

The board 50 is fixed to a bearing member 61 by means of a screw 62. The bearing member 61 has a bore 65 therein which receives the upwardly projecting post 66 of a support device 67. The support device 67 further includes a base 70 to which the post 66 is secured.

Fixed to the underneath surface 71 of the board 50 is a finger grip 72 which is used to tilt the upper structure 75 in various directions to cause the marble to move across the surface 60. Generally speaking, the game of FIG. 3 is played in the same manner as the game in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, the game stucture is illustrated which includes a cup shaped member 81 formed of resilient metal or resilient plastic or the like. A flat circular member 82 is fixed at its periphery to said cup-shaped member at its edge 85. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the member 82 is flat throughout its larger portion but has a peripheral portion 86 which extends first cylindrically and then is formed about the edge of the cup-shaped member 81. Thus, the flat member 82 forms a playing surface 87 having a circular or annular guide or retainer 90 surrounding it and define-d by the member 82 supported by the cup-shaped member 81.

The game of FIG. 4 is played in generally the same fashion as the games in FIGS. 1 and 3 with the exception that the tic-tac-toe recesses 91 are merely recesses while the trap apertures 92 extend completely through the fiat member 82 so that whenever a marblepasses into the apertures92, it will drop within the cup-shaped member 81 as shown for the marbles 95.

As mentioned, the cup-shaped member 81 is formed of resilient material. There is provided a pas-sage 96 through the Wall of the cup-shaped member 81, said passage normally being closed by a finger grip member 97. This finger grip member can be forced downwardly to the dotted line position shown at 100 to permit withdrawal of the marbles from the inside of'the cup-shaped member. An additional finger grip member 99 is formed integrally withthe cup-shaped member 81 similarly to the finger grip member 100, said member 99 being used for the same purpose as finger grip member 22.

From the above description, it will be evident that the present invention provides a game which embodies the advantages of both a pinball game and a tic-tac-toe game. It will aso be evident that the present invention provides an improved game which is relatively inexpensive, yet is extremely interesting and is fun to play.

Any of the parts of the present invention can be made of plastic, wood or metal depending upon the physical properties desired.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment-has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. A game structure for use with marbles comprising a cup-shaped member, a flat circular member received within said cup-shaped member and fixed at its periphery to said cup-shaped member, the main central portion of said flat member defining a plane which intersects the cupshaped member adjacent the edge thereof butat a spaced constant distance from said edge, the portion of said members adjacent the edge of said cup-shaped member defining a guide for said marbles maintaining them within said cup-shaped member and upon said flat circular member, said flat member having a group of recesses therein located in the center of said fiat portion, said fiat member also having a group of apertures therein located radially outwardly of said group of recesses and acting as traps for the marbles, said apertures extending through said flat member and opening into said cup-shaped member to permit passage of marbles into said cup-shaped member from said flat member, a finger grip member integral with said cup-shaped member, said cup-shaped member having a passage therethrough for the removal of marbles from said cup-shaped member, said finger grip member being held by its own resiliency in blocking relation to said passage but being movable out of said passage to permit removal of marbles fromsaid cup-shaped member.

2. A game structure for use withmarbles comprising a cup shaped member, a flat circular member received within said cup-shaped member and fixed at'its periphery to said cup-shaped member, said fiat circular member being turned up at its periphery and formed around the edge of said cup-shaped member, the main central portion of said flat member defining a plane which intersects the cupshaped member adjacent the edge thereof but at a spaced constant distance from said edge, the portion of said members adjacent the edge of said cup-shapedmember defining a guide for said marbles maintaining them within said cupshaped member and upon said fiat circular member, said flat member having a group of recesses therein located in the center of said flat portion, said fiat member also having a group of apertures therein located radially outwardly of said group of recesses and acting as traps for the marbles, said'apertures extending through said flat member and opening into said cup-shaped member to permit passage of marbles into said cup-shaped member from said flat member, a finger grip member integral with said cup-shaped member, said cup-shaped member having a passage therethrough for the removal of marblesfrom said cup-shaped member, said finger grip member being held by its own resiliency in blocking relation to said passage but being movable out-of said passage to permit removal of marbles from said cup-shaped member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 517,600 4/1894 Burns 273110 1,040,058 10/1912 Tomlin 2731 10 2,390,458 12/1945 -Pedersen 273-1 10 2,788,974 4/1957 Pick 273-1 15 FOREIGN PATENTS 814,315 3/1937 France. 1,100,255 3/ 1955 France.

463,625 7/ 1928 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES "TiltTac-Toe, Playthings magazine, February 1955, page 111.

RICHARD C. IPINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GAME STRUCTURE FOR USE WITH MARBLES COMPRISING A CUP-SHAPED MEMBER, A FLAT CIRCULAR MEMBER RECEIVED WITHIN SAID CUP-SHAPE MEMBER AND FIXED AT ITS PERIPHERY TO SAID CUP-SHAPED MEMBER, THE MAIN CENTRAL PORTON OF SAID FLAT MEMBER DEFINING A PLANE WHICH INTERSECTS THE CUPSHAPED MEMBER ADJACENT THE EDGE THEREOF BUT AT A SPACED CONSTANT DISTANCE FROM SAID EDGE, THE PORTION OF SAID MEMBERS ADJACENT THE EDGE OF SAID CUP-SHAPED MEMBER DEFINING A GUIDE FOR SAID MARBLES MAINTAINING THEM WTHIN SAID CUP-SHAPED MEMBER AND UPON SAID FLAT CIRCULAR MEMBER, SAID FLAT MEMBER HAVING A GROUP OF RECESSES THEREIN LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF SAID FLAT PORTION, SAID FLAT MEMBER ALSO HAVING A GROUP OF APERTURES THEREIN LOCATED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID GROUP OF RECESSES AND ACTING AS TRAPS FOR THE MARBLES, SAID APERTURES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FLAT MEMBER AND OPENING INTO SAID CUP-SHAPED MEMBER TO PERMIT PASSAGE OF MARBLES INTO SAID CUP-SHAPED MEMBER FROM SAID FLAT MEMBER, A FINGER GRIP MEMBER INTEGRAL WITH SAID CUP-SHAPED MEMBER, SAID CUP-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH FOR THE REMOVAL OF MARBLES FROM SAID CUP-SHAPED MEMBER, SAID FINGER GRIP MEMBER BEING HELD BY ITS OWN RESILIENCY IN BLOCKING RELATION TO SAID PASSAGE BUT BEING MOVABLE OUT OF SAID PASSAGE TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF MARBLES FROM SAID CUP-SHAPED MEMBER. 